Not a Camouflaged Soul

Category: Technology

  • In the Moment

    I have a friend that is new to Facebook. I’ve enjoyed reading his posts.

    The other day, he wrote this about bringing his son home from camp…

    “I was impressed he didn’t play his (Nintendo) DS on the ride back–I think being ‘off the net’ for a week was healthy for him–he re-learned how to ‘be present in the moment.’”

    How many of us need to try that? I sure do.

    A while back, John Saddington (aka Human3rror) posted a picture on ChurchCrunch that said the following:

    “SHUT DOWN COMPUTER, GO OUTSIDE, MEET SOMEONE.”

    Good advice.

    Much of what I do is computer related, as is the case with most professions these days. We all out of necessity spend a lot of time in front of glowing rectangles.

    I have observed many folks in my Twitter circle taking technology breaks lately. Not ONE of them ever comes out of a tech fast wishing they had spent MORE time online.

    It is refreshing, every once in a while, to put the phone out of reach and just DWELL. In the moment. I need to do that more often.

    Time to shut this glowing rectangle off.  🙂

  • How Do You Do?

    How Do You Do?

    I am the type of person that likes to hear about how people who are good at what they do do what they do.

    English majors, let me have it for that sentence. I deserve it.

    I am a fan of Food Network, not for the recipes, but to see professional chefs cook. I enjoy learning from others that are good at what they do.

    So, how do you do what you do?

    There is not really space here to go into your particular talents or abilities, so let’s focus on tools. What tools do you use to do what you do? Professional, amateur, hobby… up to you. Software, hardware, technology, transportation, resource, whatever.

    By the way, preachers: the Bible is NOT a given! Which translation? Study helps? A favorite note-taking technique?

    Musicians, here is your chance to talk gear. String gauges, amp settings, plug-ins, patches, pedals, 6 or 7 or 4 or 5 or 8 strings… what’s your pleasure?

    Go.

    Jon

  • Current Productivity Favs

    Current Productivity Favs

    A while back, I posted about my favorite iPhone apps. I am by no means an expert in these things, but I enjoy trying out new tech applications and tools that help me fully use my time. I thought I’d share a few of my recent favorites…

    –Toodledo (iPhone, web)

    I love this iPhone app and it’s companion website (or vice versa, depending on your preference). It is a typical to-do list/GTD app, but it is blessedly simple. Half a dozen taps an I have an item entered. Plus, it syncs to the main website for free (though you can pay a nominal fee for additional features). I have tried quite a few GTD apps, and this is the best I’ve found.

    –Planning Center (iPhone, web)

    I am using this to organize two different worship service formats and 65+ volunteers. The system stores PDF and audio files, volunteer contact information, service plans, and serves as an email system with which to schedule staff to their positions. This system has changed the way I plan worship. The phone app is limited in function, but is still a great tool in a pinch and useful for viewing service and contact info.

    –ESV Bible (iPhone)

    Not really productivity-related in the traditional sense, but, well, what better way to keep on track than with the Word, right? The ESV is my favorite Bible translation, and their iPhone app is my current favorite. Easy to read and navigate, with a clean UI

    –Evernote (iPhone, web, Mac and PC)

    I rely on this app more and more each day. In fact, I am writing this blog post on Evernote. I can save tweets, webpages, notes, ideas, audio… all accessible on any computer via net or downloadable app. I used to rely on Instapaper to save articles and blog posts that I wanted to read later, but Evernote is much more flexible. Very nice

    –Threadsy (web)

    Though my favorite Twitter/Facebook tool is Tweetdeck, Threadsy is useful due to the fact that it integrates these mediums, plus all of my email addresses, in one window. As someone with more than one Yahoo email address, it is nice to see all incoming messages without having to sign out and back in to different accounts.

    –Fluid (Mac)

    Fluid allows me to make each of the web apps mentioned above (and others, such as Hulu and ESV Study Bible online) into their own stand-alone app that can be accessed outside of Safari from the dock. Very handy.

    I hope these apps work as well for you as they have worked for me. Try them out.

    How about you? What tools have you found recently that are helping you manage your world?

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”